Agency Demographic Analysis

Along with my duties at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I attended the 2016 Research and Evaluation Conference on Self-Sufficiency (RECS).The conference focused on programs, policies and services that support low-income and vulnerable families on the path to economic

It is not uncommon to drive through a city without seeing a person holding a sign stating that they are trying to feed their family, had lost their job or need money to pay their rent. During recent years, particularly the ones following the financial crisis of 2008, American citizens have felt the burdens of providing for themselves or their families. The lack of affordable health care, rising costs of housing, mental health and substance use addictions, along with lack of sufficient employment have forced many from their homes to live with family, friends or on the streets and shelters. The purpose of this study is to

Operation Safety Net is a local program for the city of Pittsburgh that strives to better the lives of individuals who are homeless. As described on the program’s website, Operation Safety Net provides its consumers with necessary health care and an increase of hope and self-esteem (Operation Safety Net, 2015). This program has proven to help close the critical health inequity of homeless individuals living without healthcare. Healthy People 2020 define a health disparity as, “a particular type of health difference that is closely linked with social, economic, and/or environmental disadvantage.” (Disparities, para 6, 2015). This includes individuals having access to safe housing, culturally aware health care professionals and the opportunity to have health insurance. Therefore, there is a clear rationale for the Operation Safety Net program to be assisting people in Pittsburgh experiencing these inequities.

Homelessness in the United States can be ended, not just maintained. Allot of cities now have plans to eradicate homelessness. Homelessness and housing instability are large issues that afflict a diverse demographic such as: Families, youth, veterans, and chronically homeless single male adults. Ending homelessness may require specialized solutions that are specific to individual needs. Factors like these make defeating homelessness a difficult task. Although solutions exist for some of the demographics, such as housing for chronically homeless adults, scaling up best practices remains a challenge. For other subpopulations, such as transitional aged youth, evidence-based interventions need to be developed. In this paper we argue that ending homelessness is a Grand Challenge that is big, important, and compelling—one that the profession of social work should be adopt. Meeting this challenge will require a focused, organized response from social work researchers, clinicians, and policymakers. Ending homelessness will require innovation and interdisciplinary or cross-sector collaboration. Key words: Housing First, Permanent Supportive Housing, rapid re-housing, prevention, poverty. The notion that homelessness in the United States can be ended, rather than managed (Mangano, 2002; National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2012), represents a fundamental shift in expectations from the 1980s and ’90s. Since the early 2000s, researchers, policymakers, advocates,

One way D.C. can enhance the performance of Rapid Re-Housing programs and lower the rate of individuals/families returning back to homelessness is to emulate the model that NYC has been following for the past few years. A few years ago NYC launched the Home to Stay program (Bornstein, 2014). Home to Stay is a partnership between New York’s Department of Homeless Services and four other organizations committed to fighting homelessness (Bornstein, 2014). Home to Stay uses an evidence-based protocol known as Family Critical Time Intervention which is intended to motivate individuals and heads of families over nine months to take an advantage of support services, such as addiction and mental health counseling, conflict mediation, and improvement of job prospects (Bornstein, 2014). The program follows an extensive and rigorous screening procedure in order identify and select the most vulnerable and needy homeless individuals and families who must have access to the supportive services the program provides (Bornstein, 2014). Though Home to Stay does not target the homelessness population as a whole, program expansion is a future possibility. While there is no concrete data that measures the performance of Home to Stay, testimonies from individuals and families that participated in the program indicate that there is a promising future (Bornstein, 2014). Individuals and families that were previously homeless believe that Home to Stay is a

First, government provides housing assistance to low-income families. Low-income families just need pay 30% of their total income for rent. Second, mainstream programs provide a safety net for homelessness. This net makes mainstream programs like housing assistance, welfare, and substance support could provide what homelessness need quickly. Third, Communities created a data system to record information about homelessness. These information could be analyzed to help people know the cause of people become homeless, how long people become homeless, what exactly homeless people need, and the effect of mainstream’s support. Government already saw some positive influence of these programs. The number of family homelessness decreased 43 percent in Hennepin Country. New York creased 11 percent of homeless families was placed by a permanent housing. (National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2010)

These homeless families face many adversities and issues when seeking permanent housing like possible separation from their family members due to many

These goals address and attempt to identify the deficit of the individuals living in poverty rather than the need of the individuals and their wellbeing. Clients are not receiving the assistance to move out of poverty based on the goals of the TANF program. The TANF program provides assistance for families living in poverty to meet their basic needs. The TANF policy provides families living below the federal poverty line cash assistance to meet their very basic needs for a limited amount of time. Each state has been given the power to establish TANF eligibility requirements, benefits, and services. TANF benefits can range from “$170.00 a month in Mississippi to $923.00 a month in Alaska” (Chapin, 2014, p. 322) Children are the vast majority of TANF recipients, “In 2011 there were about 1.9 million families, or 4,363,000 average monthly TANF recipients” (Chapin, 2014, p. 322). TANF funds are spent in different categories including 28.8% in cash assistance, 38.8% in other services, 16.6% in child care, 9.4% in employment programs, and 6.9% in systems and

to the freshly self-sufficient young adults of the foster care system. They tend to go further than

On June 26, 2015, the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services released a bulletin clarifying that existing Medicaid policy allows reimbursement for housing related activities for persons with disabilities, older adults needing long term services and supports, and persons experiencing chronic homelessness.1 This announcement is in alignment with CMS’ commitment to help states expand home and community based living opportunities as encouraged by the Affordable Care Act and the Americans with Disability Act as well as the ruling in Olmstead v L.C. 1 The goal is to promote and provide community integration for these identified populations.1 Additionally, it is the

Social Services: On 08/08/2016, client Denise Worthy and her 13 year old daughter Sanai McDuffie met with assigned Case Manager Ms. Gilgen for Intake Assessment and Initial Independent Living Plan (ILP). Client is 37 years African American female. Case Manager asked client how and why she became homeless. Client stated that the reason she became home was due eviction. Client stated that she was living with her husband in New Rochelle but due to domestic violence she decided to move to Alabama. Client stated that she was living in Alabama for about a year. Client stated that she lost her job and couldn’t continue paying for the rent. Client stated that after the eviction her family was sleeping in abandons houses for about a month before coming to NYC. Case Manager asked client if she has any family member in Alabama, client stated no. Client stated that she moved to Alabama to get out of her domestic violence situation.

Housing Crisis Center (HCC) was established over 37 years of pioneering programs and services assisting homeless families and individuals in our community. HCC saw a need to opening the homeless shelter in Dallas, Texas, in 1978. Since that beginning, has added additional programs and services, always in response to needs in the community. The HCC has three target populations to help in the community. One target population is All Citizens Empowered (ACE). To qualify for assistance in the ACE housing program the head-of-households has to have a disabling, mental condition such as schizophrenia, and also have an addiction to substances. Individuals must also be continually homeless. Half of the population that the Housing Crisis

Julian Lambert is a case manager for the newly open office of Eastern Carolina Human Services Agency, Inc. in New River shopping center. Although he is not a professional social worker, he is well aware of the needs of the population and the importance of providing and linking them with resources. He gave me useful information and his insightful perspective about the resources available and missing in the community, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the area.

Since this demographic faces many internal and external barriers, services have arisen in the DC area to provide aid. On a broader level, programs like WIC and Medicaid provide appropriate food and medical care to this population. However, on the local level, organizations such as Mary’s Center, the Community of Hope, and the Developing Families Centers have provided numerous minorities with health and prenatal care (Bowser). Out of these organizations, the Community of Hope and the Developing Families Center specifically target low income and pregnant African Americans.

Family lives in a two-bedroom home, two bathrooms, family room, and dining room, all with well lighting, working water supply, and electricity. The house is clean with good hygiene, there are no safety hazards, and waste and garbage disposal is adequate. The family feels a moderate sense of privacy although would like to have more independent space. The family has lived in this neighborhood for 20 years it is a well kept residential area with mostly a Hispanic population. M and J are not familiar with community services and S is typically to proud to use the services provided. L makes use of her college services but otherwise is not familiar with other services in the community.